I forgot to say that Sunday was my birthday. Now I am 58 and none the wiser. My husband took me to a huge botanica where I squealed with pleasure at the racks and racks of magical oils and candles. We thought it would be nice to get a picture of me with the big Santa Muerta, but look! You can barely tell us apart.
In my imagination, I look more like this:
or even this:
Oh never mind. I guess I can start cultivating an eccentric old lady look, although it seems like a lot of trouble. Furthermore, now that it’s been packaged and approved by Topshop, its appeal is kind of dubious.
What brought this on, do you think? Is it Tavi-related? Is it Daphne Guinness? Is it Little Edie Beale? Is it that blog about Advanced Style with all the wacky looking old ladies?
Whatever the reason for officially dictating a trend called Eccentric Lady, it is by definition less original and appealing. Fuck it.
I’m sticking with Geriatric Tomboy , but easing into Slob. Maybe it’s more like Crypto-Hipster Slob now that I have a big tattoo.
Let’s brace ourselves for an army of young girls wearing turbans, big sunglasses, ratty furs, granny dresses and hideous brooches. If they can loose the scary Jeffrey Campbell shoes, maybe it will be a blessing in disguise.
Happy Birthday, Sister Wolf!
Steel yourself, saw a young Street Style Wannabee over at Century City in a turban earlier this week.
Damn, now I can’t wear turbans anymore for fear of being labeled a wannabe. And Happy Birthday! I hate to sound trite, but you are as young as you feel. 58 is just a number. (and I know because I just turned it a few weeks ago.)
Happy Belated Birthday! “Eccentric Ladies” by Topshop – oh, the horror, the horror!
Here is a link to the real, not pre-packaged eccentric old ladies. You may love them or hate them, but at least they are not boring: http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/
Happy Belated Birthday Sister Wolf! Bah, you look amazing and give those younguns a run for their money. Stay stylish, don’t lose yourself an go to botanicas more often for fun (I happen to adore them!)
With love,
Suzanne
I believe we already have a couple of young girls that dress as you describe. Their names are MaryKate and Ashley.
Oh. Happy birthday!
Happy (belated) almost birthday twin! Saturday was mine (39th).
This makes more sense now, why I have a bit of a strangely strong admiration for you (aside from your general awesomeness!).
I should lurk less.
Happy Belated Birthday, my dear!!!
Happy Birthday, Sister! There’s a lot to be said for dressing like a sane person, and you look wonderful (I love your hair, your lipstick and the little blue egg-like thing that is your pendant).
That said, I do love the ladies and gents of Advanced Style. At that age, it’s very unlikely that they’re dressing that way for any other reason than because they genuinely like it and don’t give a fuck about anything else.
Happy belated Birthday!!!
One of the girls at my shop has been working “old lady chic” for 2 years now. She will be gutted to hear that it has gone mainstream.
And you look great-although an outfit made of money would suit you too!!!
Hippity B’Day you Virgo cutie!
Inky x’s
Happy Birthday dear SW! You look fantastic. I am 42 and insanely jealous of your hair. Due to recent job loss, I have had to cut mine and it’s now republican hair. But even when long, it never came close to your glorious thickness. Only change if you want to. Messages about what women should wear are all crap anyway, but you know that!
God, I wish, and I’m just hitting 50 this month.
you are beautiful! happy birthday xx
Your hair looks amazing xxoo
You look stunning. I wish I look half as good as you do when I’m 58.
A big birthday hug for you Sister!
Happy birthday!
You are NOT ready for the eccentric old lady look and furthermore, you look nothing like Santa Muerta. So there. 🙂
You are stunning, by the way.
Happy Birthday!! I’m sticking with my Mo’Nique in Precious lookâ„¢
happy belated birthday. xoxo
Happy Belated Birthday!
You’re stunning. Can you send me the secret to your gorgeous hair?
Topshop probably really wanted to call the Eccentric Lady look, Crazy Cat Lady but couldn’t because the word crazy may have insulted someone. As a lifetime member of the Crazy Lady club I, for one, would not have been offended by the addition of an adjective.
NO! I was rubbish I’ve only just found out it is your birthday & I missed it!! 58!! You look better than Madonna!! Actually you looked better than Madonna when you were 53 so tis no surprise you are still out doing her.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY (belated) xoxo
As for eccentric lady – I was utterly pissed off when Tavi nicked my look so I ditched it (btw I’m really freaked by the fact her father is her manager?!)
Now it is an ‘official’ look I’m distraught. It is wrong so wrong……..
PS Stacy has saved me – Crazy Lady club is more pleasing, I’ll join that instead.
Happy belated birthday Mama Wolf.
(topshop’s ‘eccentric lady’ just describes Gala D’s look a few years ago. Best avoided)
A belated happy birthday – I think I’ve unintentionally been rocking the Geriatric Tomboy look.
A belated happy birthday from me too!
omg happy belated birthday Sister Wolf! you are so wonderful and a gift to the blogging world. you are way cooler than i will ever be. please don’t ever stop being yourself, it gives me hope to continue being ridiculous me as well.
Sister, you look stunning. Both the husband and I agree, and he is BRUTALLY honest (“If you eat any more of those pink wafer cookies, you’ll only get fatter”). Also, I seem to dress more like a child the older I get, and “Eccentric Lady” has me baffled. Much love to you. xoxo
Happy belated Birthday chica!
I can’t believe you are 58! You look really young for your age and the things you write about also confirms that. Congratulations for passing off as a 17 year old, “I am more superior than you”, bitter high school girl. I really thought this blog was written by a teenager until I started reading older entries and came across this post.
People never cease to amaze me.
Janod – Hahahahahhahahaha! Inside, I will always be a bitter 17 year old and annoy people like you.
I’m not annoyed by you at all. I just think you are a very sad person. It actually scares me that you are so sad and angry.
Janod – Oh for godsake, just fuck off. thanks.
Hello, and and thanks for a wonderful blog! Your post gave me inspiration to write my own post on this weird phenomenon (“eccentric lady”). It`s in swedish but you could always use google translate if you want to read it 🙂
(and have a good laugh at the bad translation).
Sphincter says what? I mean to say ‘happy birthday.’
It’s hard to believe you’re 58. Real hard. Lookin’ good with your smooth fo’head and long ass hairs. Botox that neck and you’ll be ship shape. I’M KIDDING!
Or am I?
Hello! Where is this botanica?
I love this site and think you are the coolest woman on the planet.